LOGINHello, lovely readers. Let me know what you think of the book so far? Don't forget to vote with Gems ^^ they mean a lot, and please leave a review if you would like more than two updates a day :) For every review I get, I'll post two more chapters. Thank you :)
[Elara]The flight back to Sun Tech City was just as long as it had been when the trip was the other way around.But somehow, it felt longer. Not because I was bored out of my mind or had nothing better to do, but because I was tired of looking at Vera and meeting a dead end every time I tried to talk to her.Conversations with her were always one-sided. She only responded to whatever I asked, did what I told her to do and the way I told her to do it. Other than that, she had no personality of her own. She didn’t bounce around the private plane the way Cora would have. She didn’t ask millions of questions. She didn’t smile or giggle or point at anything that caught her eye, but it didn’t make sense, because it was something new for her.She did nothing like that.Just sat in her seat, eyes either glued to the screen in front of her, or tightly shut, as if she was catching up on some much-needed sleep.I sighed deeply into my chest, peeling my gaze off her after what felt like hours, a
[Elara]Even long after I returned to my hotel room, Griffin’s words kept echoing in my head.“You’re a victim, too,” he had said, and that too as fiercely and protectively as possible. It was as if he wanted me to brand those words in my brain, as if he wanted me to believe them—believe him—with everything I had.And I did. Or at least, I wished I could with just as much confidence as he did.But there was one thing that he wasn’t completely wrong about, though.There was no denying that it was the Blackwoods who were solely responsible for this—for turning my Vera into this robotic six-year-old girl who didn’t even know she was just a child.And that made me angry. So damn angry.In my heart, I knew I would never forgive them for this. That I would make them pay for what they did to my daughter. That I would make them feel what helplessness and desperation feel like when you’re at someone else’s mercy.When the next morning arrived, and the soft rays of the rising sun filtered throu
[Elara]During the dinner, Vera doesn’t complain about anything. She doesn’t act spoiled or picky or plain disgusted at the sight of something she would rather die than eat.She eats everything I put on her plate. Never questioning. Never doubting. Never making a scene.It’s like watching a robot do something that simply needs to be done, and not because it finds any joy in it.She just eats. Moves her jaw. Blinks. And then repeat.It hurts just looking at her.From across the table, I feel Griffin’s eyes on me. Frowning and probably wondering why I would look like someone who might cry any moment now.Hence, I’m not surprised when he asks me to meet him in his room after Vera goes to sleep.I stand at the door, watching and waiting to see if she needs anything else.When she does nothing but take off her white jacket, fold it neatly, place it on the foot of the bed, and lie down with her eyes immediately shut, I realize there’s nothing I can do to make this situation any better for n
[Elara]After I revealed that I was her mother, Vera’s reaction was nothing but a blink.A blink.That’s all. That’s it.I couldn’t help but stare at her with all the confusion in the world, wondering if there was literally anything that could get her to react like a normal child, a child no more than ten years of age.She was nothing like Cora. That much was obvious.My Cora was bubbly, playful, naughty, yet wise for someone her age.But Vera? Vera was a whitewashed wall. With nothing but one singular emotion painted across her face. The emotion of no emotion at all.At least, that’s how my brain surmised after spending the next twenty minutes with her in the car, while we drove back to the hotel.She didn’t say a word. Not a single word at all. Just sat there with her eyes fixed ahead, interested in nothing but existing.When we entered our room, and Griffin reminded me that we would be leaving in the morning, and I should get some rest, my eyes stayed glued to the back of Vera, onl
[Elara]After the agreements were signed, Adrian kept his word and asked Petra to complete the formalities on their end and bring my daughter to us.The moment Petra left the conference room, my hands started to shake. My chest ached with pure, raw nervousness, and my head swam for a few seconds.To even think that I was this close to seeing her—right in front of me—made me nauseous and jittery.I wondered if she looked the same as in the picture. I wondered if she would recognize me as her mother, or maybe feel some instant connection like they show in old movies.I wondered if she would feel happy to know that she had a family—that she could finally leave this dreadful place and never have to come back here. Ever.I even wondered if, instead of being glad, she would get angry with me, accusing me of leaving her all alone when she needed me the most.I curled my fingers around my knees, squeezing so tightly that I could feel my nails cutting into my skin.It didn’t hurt. Not when the
[Elara]I don’t think I heard him right.Because there’s no way he said what I think I heard.I wait for him to correct himself, to apologize for the obvious slip of tongue, and restate his condition.But he does nothing like that. His dark gaze stays glued to Griffin, his fingers still slowly tapping on the table.I turn to see Griffin, wanting to know whatever the hell is going on, but find him staring back at Adrian instead. For some reason, it seems like I’m the only one who is clueless about the situation, and everyone else seems to have gotten to the point where every word spoken has a universal meaning that everyone understands.Finally, after what feels like forever, Griffin leans slightly forward. “Is this your only condition?”“Yep!” Adrian nods offhandedly. “Pretty much.”“How many do you want?”“How many can you give?”“One.”“I never knew you had such a sense of humour.” He chuckles, but his eyes never leave Griffin. “I know you have developed quite a few. So, let’s just
[Elara]Once we reach the mansion, the guard helps me carry Damon to his room.“Thank you,” I say, and he nods, offers a brief smile, and leaves.
In my head, a silent conversation between Damon and me has already ended terribly.I look him in the eye—surprised and betrayed—and he looks away, not even bothering to explain.“Elara?” Hannah’s voice comes again. “You… still here?”Done with him, I break my gaze and turn to my sister. “Of course.”
[Elara]A week goes by, and I hear nothing from Damon.But maybe it’s for the better. The less we contact each other, the easier it will be to walk away once our divorce is finalized.I glance at the calendar and realize there’s just one more week left before the month ends. Just one more week of t
[Hannah]The anger on Damon’s face is worth watching.He looks like he’s barely holding himself back from punching someone.How I wish that face were Elara’s.Too bad—Damon would never hit her, even if she were the shittiest person in the world. He might have slapped her once, but that’s the most h







